Page 67 of Forever Mine

Gabriel: I couldn't bring you,querida. I would if I could.

Me: I'm lonely, Gabriel.

Gabriel: I'll be home tonight.

Me: Your woman has needs,tesoro.

Gabriel: Needs?

Me: Yes, needs. I'm lonely, and you left me here to take care of myself. Just like I've had to take care of myself every day … and night … since you brought me home from the hospital.

Gabriel: Jesus, querida.

Me: I'm done waiting.

Gabriel: I don't want to hurt you,anjinho.

Me: Maybe I want to hurt a little with you.

Gabriel: Are you sure?

Me: Absofuckinglutely.

Gabriel: I'll be home by seven. Be ready. Tonight, you're mine.

Me: Looking forward to it,tesoro.

I squeal with glee as I grab my shoes and head downstairs to wait for Harper. I'm so freakin giddy now. If we're heading to the mall, I'm getting some lingerie. Might as well make this as memorable as possible. I feel like this will be the last first fuck I have. I think Gabriel might be it for me. My forever.

After Harper texts that she's out front, I skip out after locking Gabriel's door. While he hasn't necessarily encouraged me to go anywhere without him, he gave me a key and explained the complex security system.

"Well, you seem in a good mood," Harper says curiously.

"I am. I'm gonna get laid tonight!" I screech as I climb into the backseat of Harper's SUV. Owen forced her to upgrade.

"Uh, so yeah. Victoria, this is Monica. She doesn't have a filter," Harper says dryly.

"Hi, Monica. It's nice to meet you. Thanks for letting me tag along," Victoria says warmly.

"Hey. Sorry about the lack of filter. I really don't have one. But Harper still loves me because she really doesn't have a filter either," I say with a wink. Victoria chuckles and nods.

"I'm learning to let go of my filter. My ex demanded perfection all the time. Trying to recall the person I was before I met him has been a process. I think I'd have been pretty similar to the two of you," Victoria muses.

“Well, hang with us for longer, Victoria. We’re bound to rub off on you,” I tell her. “Harp, did Nate text you? Em’s having contractions.”

“No way! They confirm if it’s really a boy yet?” she asks.

“Nope.”

“When is her due date?”

“Next week, I think. But she told me last week that since this is her fourth baby, she’d probably not make it to her due date.”

We spend the rest of the drive chatting about random things as Victoria and I get to know each other. She'll fit in just fine into our little group. Her personality mirrors a mixture of Emily and Olivia. She is very kind and thoughtful, with a hint of meekness, mostly due to her jackass of an ex-husband. She has two daughters and works at the elementary school where both Olivia and Emily worked. Em's basically been pregnant or nursing since she moved here and hasn't been back in the classroom since. Liv is debating on going back once her twin girls are older. These people are just too damn fertile.

"Alright, ladies, I have lingerie to purchase!" I shout as we get out of Harper's SUV.

"Damn, Mon, you really don't have to scream it. We know. You're gonna get lucky tonight," Harper teases.

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